The Château of Valençay

The Château of Valençay

Situated in Berry, the Château de Valençay harmoniously combines two architectural styles, Renaissance and Classical. Fully furnished, it also has magnificent formal gardens and a landscaped informal park...

It was in 1803 that Napoleon bought Château de Valençay for his famous Foreign Affairs Minister, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, so that the minister could receive European dignitaries in style. From 1808 to 1814, Napoleon imposed upon him the presence of the Princes of Spain, who were in exile. Talleyrand and his wife, Princess de Bénévent, made sure the princes and their retinue were catered for in lavish style, making Valençay a “golden prison”.

On a visit to the château you will discover an exceptional collection of Louis XVI and Empire furniture.

The park, the formal gardens, the floral checkerboard arrangement, the lively tours, the big maze, the little farm…. Fun visits for all the family!

From April to September, historical performances given by actors in period costume take you back to daily life in the era of Talleyrand.

In 2011, a new 600m² garden was created, the Jardin d’Antonin, with 320 types of culinary herbs, in tribute to Antonin Carême. This great chef and the inventor of the ‘Grande Cuisine’ spent 12 years in the service of the Prince de Talleyrand.

In summer, two evenings with visits by candlelight take visitors into a magical, festive, lively ambience. 3000 candles cast a new perspective over the gardens and the Renaissance château.